Chilliwack/Abbotsford (With files from Abby News) – Canada Day celebrations in Chilliwack start with the traditional Kiwanis pancake breakfast at 8:00 am at Evergreen Hall, featuring the Chilliwack Community Band and local dignitaries.
This year the party gets started at 5:00 pm at Townsend Park. The will be a great assortment of food vendors and picnic tables in the main parking lot off Ashwell Road. The party also includes the YMCA Kids Zone, featuring face painting, crafts and games, as well as the Chartwell Senior Zone with special bleacher seating, tents and more. Special performances and fireworks will round out the event.
This year there will not be any daytime activities scheduled. Local Entertainer and Canada Day event organizer Trevor McDonald explains that the hope is that people will enjoy the day with family and friends before coming back to Townsend Park for fireworks and an amazing evening stage show.
In Abbotsford:
Two celebrations are taking place in Abbotsford for Canada Day.
The first is the annual Mt. Lehman parade, leaving from Mt. Lehman Credit Union (5889 Mt. Lehman Rd.) at 9:30 a.m.
Anyone who would like to participate in the parade by driving their car, motorcycle, tractor, bicycle, float or by walking or Rollerblading is asked to be at the credit union at 9 a.m.
Mt. Lehman Road will be closed between Harris and Taylor roads from 9 to 10 a.m.
Prior to the parade, cinnamon buns will be sold and there will be complimentary coffee and tea, starting at 8 a.m., at Mt. Lehman Community Hall (6418 Mt. Lehman Rd.).
After the parade, cake and festivities take place at the hall.
The City of Abbotsford’s annual Canada Day celebration, sponsored by Prospera Credit Union and with a Jungle Jamboree theme, gets underway with a parade at 11 a.m.
The parade makes its way along South Fraser Way to Abbotsford Exhibition Park, where a family festival begins at 1 p.m. and includes nine interactive fun zones, an artisan market, pony rides, mini golf, birthday cake and more.
Mainstage entertainment from 1 to 5 p.m. includes several community and cultural performances such as martial arts, dance and performing arts.
The afternoon will also include the pop-rock band Casinos at 3:50 p.m.
Mainstage entertainment from 6 to 10 p.m. includes a number of Lower Mainland acts.
At 6 p.m., the evening entertainment kicks off with the bluegrass folk band Back Door Slam, featuring fiddle, guitar, harmonica, bass, mandolin and washboard.
They will be followed by the official opening ceremonies and the announcement of the Order of Abbotsford and Citizen of the Year recipients.
Also performing in the evening are Derrival, who placed second in last year’s Peak Performance Project, and local Punjabi artist Sukhraj, who will perform a solo set including his single Kurbaan.
The day’s festivities conclude with a fireworks celebration at 10 p.m.
For more information, visit abbotsford.ca.
